How we tackle sex-for-grade in MOUAU – VC, As institution graduates 7000
MOUAU Gate
Authorities of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), has expelled or dismissed many lecturers and a student of the institution for indulging in sex- or money-for-grade.
Vice Chancellor (VC) of MOUAU, Prof. Francis Otunta, disclosed this to newsmen during the Pre-Convocation Press Briefing held at the VC’s Conference room Tuesday.
At the 9th Convocation ceremony of the university this Saturday, 7, 025 students would graduate from the university as 6, 214 students would be awarded Bachelors Degrees, 507 would bag Masters Degrees while 144 would graduate with Doctorate Degrees.
Otunta narrated how a lecturer reported to have sexually harrassed a female student and was found guilty by the University Council “had to leave the system because of such thing.”
Other punitive measures, he enumerated, include barring indicted lecturers from being promoted or holding positions in the university for 10 years. “Council determines all these and it has happened,” he said.
“Since I have been here, I have had that problem. Many people have been expelled or dismissed; sanctioned one way or the other,” he added.
According to the VC, the management has taken steps to protect fresh and Second Year students from sexual harassment by introducing computer-based examinations which minimise their physical contact with lecturers.
Otunta said the system has also helped in tackling “sorting,” while drastically reducing incidents of sex- or money-for-grade.
The VC said the university has spent over N435 million on sponsoring 92 members of staff to conferences/workshops, with 25 doing University research-based projects and 15 doing doctorate training programmes.
He said as a result of efforts by his administration to produce competent and confident graduates, MOUAU was now ranked 9th, up from its former 57th position out of the 121 universities in the country, just as 12 programmes of the nferencdhave received full accreditation.
Otunta also disclosed that his administration has held 25 inaugural lectures in four years, as opposed to 23 in 25 years before he assumed office.
He said that the institutions needs more physical structures for convenience of staff and students.
